Tuesday, July 31, 2012

One of my favorite tatting blogs is “Elizabeth’s Lace” (www.elizabeths-lace.blogspot.com).
Elizabeth developed this cross pattern, which is very small and works up
quickly. When I saw how small it was, I decided to make a necklace for it. It
has split rings at the end to make the length adjustable.

I’m preparing for my first craft sale at a local festival
which is coming up in a few weeks. I’ve never sold my tatting before, and I’m
anxious to see how it will go. Though I’ve been tatting for about six years, I
don’t think I’ve ever made as much as I have this year! Nonetheless, I’m
nervous that I won’t have enough things to sell and that the table will look
empty. I know I shouldn’t worry, since this is just a trial run to give me some
experience and inspiration for future endeavors. I’m still going to cram in
some last-minute projects and try to add a little variety to my wares—I feel
like I need to branch out and see what types of tatted knickknacks are most
popular.

I absolutely love this pattern! It is incredibly simple; it
uses only rings and can be made with only one shuttle. Once finished, the
bookmark is very sturdy because the rings are all very close together and solidly
joined. It will hold up very well in use. The daisy motives would also be great
in many other tatted projects, like bracelets, headbands, or handkerchief edging.
I foresee that it will be one of my standards.

A few months ago, I started playing around with the “Tatted
Earrings” pattern by Anastasia Maltseva (http://free-tatting.com/?p=21).
I used white and blue thread. I didn’t realize immediately that the blue thread
was size 80—it wasn’t labeled. The white thread was size 70, so there was a
slight difference in size on each side of the motif.

I took my tatting with me while vacationing in western
Montana this spring, and found myself being inspired by the breathtaking
landscape of Glacier National Park. I finally experienced first-hand what John
Denver sang about in “Wild Montana Skies.” The mountains, topped with white
glaciers and outlined against the blue sky, reminded me of the lace I was
making. So, I made these earrings and a necklace, inspired by natural beauty,
and I named them the Wild Montana Skies necklace and earrings.

Anastasia Maltseva’s website, www.free-tatting.com, displays many
lovely patterns which she has made available for free. I tried her Long Tatted
Earrings (http://free-tatting.com/?p=31)
in dark violet size 70 cotton tatting thread. I did not put beads on my version
of these earrings. I love Ms. Maltseva’s earrings, but I was less pleased with
mine; they seemed skewed and uneven. I do not like how the scallops along the outside
edge are different sizes. If I were to use this pattern again, I would change
the number of stitches in the chains to make them more even. The center
motives, however, are very delicate and pretty, and demonstrate clever use of
split rings to form a length of three flowers.